168 PHYTOTOXINS AND ZOOTOXINS 



gives a much heavier one. Antiricin, like other antitoxins, is 

 inseparable from the proteids of the serum. 



Physiological Action. Their poisonous action is mani- 

 fold, most prominent being agglutination of the erythrocytes, local 

 cellular destruction, and, to a less extent, hemolysis. Jacoby 

 believes that in ricin there are several toxic substances differing 

 in physiological properties, similar to Ehrlich's findings in 

 diphtheria toxin (toxones, etc.). By long action of pepsin-HCl 

 upon ricin, he secured a preparation with all the other properties 

 of ricin except that it was inactive against erythrocytes ; the 

 same result could not be obtained with abrin. Heating to 65 

 or 70 does not destroy the toxicity of phytotoxins, but boiling 

 does. There is a latent period of several hours after injection 

 of the poison, the onset of symptoms being sudden ; death rarely 

 occurs in less than fifteen to eighteen hours (Osborne et al). 



Flexner l has studied particularly the histological changes 

 produced by ricin and abrin poisoning in animals. Both act 

 alike, affecting the tissues much as bacterial toxins do (diph- 

 theria). Fever, albuminuria, and convulsions are followed by 

 exhaustion and lowered temperature. Punctiform hemorrhages 

 are found beneath the serous surfaces, with fluid in the peritoneal 

 cavity. At least in the case of ricin the hemorrhages are not 

 due to blood changes, but to a special toxin destroying the 

 endothelial cells. 2 There occur a general lymphatic enlargement 

 and marked changes in the intestinal mucosa, with swelling of 

 the Peyer's patches. The spleen is swollen and dark in color, 

 as also is the liver, which shows much focal necrosis. Sub- 

 cutaneous injection causes local edematous inflammation without 

 suppuration. Histologically, in the most affected organs are 

 found much cellular necrosis and disintegration, especially of 

 lymphoid and epithelial cells. Changes in the capillary endo- 

 thelium, fibrinous thrombi, and abundant hemorrhagic extrav- 

 asations are wide-spread. Probably agglutinative thrombosis 

 by red corpuscles plays an important part in these intoxications 

 (Ehrlich). The great amount of intestinal injury probably 

 depends upon the fact that these poisons are largely eliminated 

 through the intestinal mucosa. 



Mushroom Poisons. The poisons of the three chief poisonous 

 mushrooms, Amanita muscaria, Helvetia esculentia, and Amanita phal- 

 loides, differ from one another quite essentially. The poisonous prin- 

 ciples of the first and second, muscarin and helvellic acid, are non-pro teid 

 substances, of known chemical composition, which are discussed else- 



1 Jour. Exper. Med., 1897 (2), 197. 



s Amer. Jour. Med. Sci., 1903 (126), 206. 



